Daddy seemed a bit distracted as Yeside got into the house. She felt a mix of exhiliration and guilt and it was making her tired. She had kissed Barrister Ikedia again! And it felt good! Yet there was this niggling feeling like she was betraying her family and values. She felt torn between desire and doing what she was raised to know as right.
"E kule sir", she greeted her dad.
Olamide ran to her and hugged her tightly. She felt the weight of her responsibility towards him and she thought again about the time she spent with Barrister Ikedia. Within a few minutes, he had already found some of her pleasure spots. He was definitely a more considerate and delightful lover than Wole. Still, the guilt was eating at her.
"Kaabo. How are you re?"
Yeside managed a weary smile. "How are you re?" was a private joke between her and Daddy. She had once told him how she considered such mixes between Yoruba and English unforgivable. From that time, he always greeted her with such mixes. "How are you re?" was the one that amused her the most.
"Where's Mummy?"
"Ah, is it the Justice Anjola that you're asking about at this time? Well, she is praying now. She's about to break her fast"
The sudden change in her mum had shocked Yeside and everyone else. Her mum was now so devout, praying and fasting as if she wanted to make up for lost time.
"Welcome darling"
Wole broke into her thoughts as he came around and gave her a hug. That was the most intimate she and Wole had been in about 2 years. She had forgotten how it felt to be in his embrace. Again, she remembered the 15 minutes she spent with Barrister Ikedia.
As he closed the door in his office, she started to tell him how the affair won't work. He hushed her with a kiss and held her hand. She knew she should resist but she couldn't find words. Before she knew it, their hands and mouths were exploring forbidden areas.
At some point, his phone rang but he quickly cut off the call without looking at who was calling. Later on, her reminder came on to remind her of a High Flyer training. Her shirt and bra were already off by this time and she actually contemplated missing the training. A strength came from nowhere and she told him she had to go. He tried to continue but she insisted. He helped her get dressed and continued to kiss different areas as she got dressed, perhaps hoping to weaken her resolve.
"Yeside, did you hear Mummy?", Wole asked her gently
"Sorry, I was lost in thought",
"I was asking what you would like to eat. There is pounded yam, rice and Ikokore"
"Oh, thanks Mum. I'll have some rice ma"
Yeside was trying to get used to all the spoiling and attention. First, Wole hugged her and now her mum was asking her what she wanted to eat? Something really big must be coming. Olamide stuck to her even as Wole sat really close to her. The suspense was building up quickly but she decided to wait for whatever was coming.
***************************************************
Gbenro stared hard at Motunrayo. He couldn't believe what she was telling him.
Kunle had been blackmailing him as he expected. He had threatened to sell the story to a soft-sell magazine if Gbenro didn't pay up. He could read Kunle like the back of his hand. He had relished telling his father about the issue with Gbenro. Let him deal with it! Afterall, he started the evil cycle.
"How can you be pregnant? Who is responsible? I hope it isn't Daddy o?"
"Brother, I don't know. I sincerely don't know"
Motunrayo was sobbing. She contemplated telling Gbenro about Kunle. He had told her that he knew about the secret. He refused to tell her how he knew but he had demanded sex for his silence. She gave in readily as she didn't think there was much to it. Her father had taken her virginity, what more could Kunle take from her?
She remembered Kunle's laughter when she told him she was pregnant.
"Why are you telling me? Shouldn't you be talking to your father? Isn't it convoluted? He'll both be father and grandfather to your baby. Please leave my house quickly before your curse transfers to me ooo"
The laughter was pure evil!
"Tell me, Motunrayo, what other man have you been with? Have you been sleeping around?"
Something stirred in Motunrayo. Yes, it was indignation! How dare Gbenro take that tone with her? Had he forgotten that she was the sacrificial lamb that atoned for HIS sin?
"What does it matter? Is it not better than being betrayed by everyone you've ever trusted? Can I truly call any of you my family?"
Gbenro tried to calm her down.
"We need to figure out how to deal with this. Definitely, we have to find a discreet abortion clinic and dispose of the foetus. We'll probably need to organize for you to travel out for a few months"
Gbenro went on and on about his plans while Motunrayo made plans of her own. Someone had to pay for the condition that she found herself. Starting from this night...
***************************************************
Kunle couldn't believe his luck. First, he got his time with Motunrayo and now he was about to get paid.
Gbenro had even ordered drinks before they came. He had demanded cash. Gbenro gave him all the money. He counted about 3 times. He wondered how Gbenro was able to withdraw the 25 million Naira cash inspite of the CBN maximum daily withdrawal limit. He was a multi-millionaire!
As he stood up, he suddenly felt weak. As he slumped, he caught Gbenro's evil grin. The drink!
****************************************************
Gbenro couldn't believe his luck. The poison had started working so fast. Kunle did not notice when he took the envelope with the money. His plans had fallen into place and he was sure that was the last time he'll hear from Kunle. Let him talk to soft-sell magazines in hell!
"Repent and be converted that times of refreshing may come"
Gbenro looked around to find who spoke to him. There was no one around. He quickly started the car and as he made his way out of the car park, he noticed the pamphlet he had left in the glove compartment a few days ago. His pretty Personal Assistant, Susan, had given it to him and he left it there.
The title was "Times of Refreshing"...
****************************************************
Yeside was sure she had felt every possible emotion by the time Daddy, Mummy and Wole were done with the story. Martha had taken Olamide with her when they finally started to talk about why they had asked her to come over.
They all took turns telling her the story of how Wole discovered recently that Gbenro had contracted his friend, Kunle, to poison Wole's mind against her because Gbenro never forgave her for breaking their engagement. Her mum also confessed that she did all she could to break the marriage because she didn't feel Wole deserved to be married to her precious daughter. They were all looking at her, expecting her to smile and tell them all was forgiven. Wole was on his knees right in front of her.
The minister Daddy had invited finally spoke.
"This is a lot for anyone to digest. Can we give her some time to process all she has heard? Please let us pray"
As he led them in prayer, she kept going over all they had said. Her prayers had finally been answered. Why was she not overjoyed?
Just as the pastor rounded up the prayers, Wole's phone rang and Yeside received a text message...
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